Supporting Integrated Patient Care by Moving Tests Out of the Core Lab and into Physicians’ Offices: Lessons from HealthPartners’ Experience

Dark Daily Webinar Held – Wednesday, May 29 (1 PM EDT)

In an effort to reduce costs, many clinical laboratories and pathology groups have moved to a central lab system where almost all lab tests are sent. This has led to both patients and doctors incurring lengthy wait times—often until the next day—to learn the results, as well as myriad other inefficiencies.

But— by bringing selected tests into the physician’s office, dramatic changes can occur. Turnaround times are reduced (both for the patient and the provider). The patient’s experience is improved, with required care received faster and more conveniently. The provider’s efficiency is boosted, with more time to devote to treating patients. Clinical outcomes are enhanced. And last but certain not least, total cost of care is optimized.

These are but a few of the advantages of the decentralization of key testing. Even so, there are, of course, barriers to entry and moving away from a centralized testing model. Questions include: How is the initial high capital cost of equipment mitigated? What about staffing concerns, and other requirements necessary for good results?

This 90-minute webinar, including an interactive Q&A session, will supply you with answers to these questions, and many more—providing you with a vital understanding of how better integrated service for patients can be achieved by moving key tests into the physician’s office, plus best practices (and lessons) from an industry expert on how to implement a plan that keeps results moving and leads to better and faster treatment of patients!

Speakers:

Rick L. Panning has been in clinical and pathology laboratory leadership positions in the Minneapolis-St. Paul healthcare market since 1980. Prior to HealthPartners, Panning served as the President of Laboratory Services for Fairview Health Services, CEO for the American Red Cross North Central Blood Center, and Vice President of Laboratory Services at Allina Health. He has been very active within CLMA and the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science, where he served on the Board of Directors as Regional Director and ultimately national president in 2007-2008.

Panning has also served on the ASCLS Government Affairs Committee and led and participated on a number of task forces. Having a strong interest in workforce issues, he represented ASCLS on the Coordinating Council for the Clinical Laboratory workforce and also served as chair. He has served on the board of directors for CLSI and is currently serving as Treasurer.

Panning has spoken nationally on a number of topics, including legislative and regulatory affairs, process improvement and lean management, genetic testing strategy, test utilization, and Total Cost of Care.